an1, def. art. (gsf. & pl. na).(In nsf. and gsm. it lenites initial consonants b, c, f, g, m, p. Prefixes t- to initial vowel in nsm., and to initial s followed by a vowel or l, n, r in nsf., gsm. When preceded by prepositions ag, ar, faoi, le, ó, roimh, thar, trí, um eclipses (b, c, f, g, p) or lenites (b, c, f, g, m, p); lenites when preceded by de (> den), do (> don), i (> sa, san before fh vowel). Na in gsf. and npl. prefixes h, in gpl. n-, to vowels; in gpl. eclipses b, c, d, f, g, p, t) The. Some of the most common uses of the definite article are:1. (Particularizing) An fear, the man. An bhean bheag, the little woman. An seomra cúil, the back room. An bealach amach, the way out. An chéad uair, the first time. An lá cheana, the other day. An rud is fearr liom, the thing I prefer. 2. (Exclusive) An domhan, the world. An spéir, the sky. Na flaithis, heaven. 3. (Denoting class, species) An duine, man(kind). An pobal, the public, the congregation. An fhearthainn, (the) rain. Is breá an fear é, he is a fine man. Tá an bainne maith, milk is good. Tá an t-eallach daor, cattle are dear. Tá na tithe gann, houses are scarce. Tá sé trom ar na bróga, he is hard on shoes. Is fairsinge an fheoil ná an t-iasc, meat is more plentiful than fish. 4. (With nouns followed by demonstrative) An fear seo, this man. An bhean sin, that woman. 5. (With abstract nouns, in general reference) An grá, love. An ceol, music. An t-ocras, hunger. An tsláinte, health. An fhíodóireacht, weaving. An chaint, speech. 6. (With units of time) An lá agus an oíche, day and night. An Domhnach, Sunday. An t-earrach, spring. An Bhealtaine, May. An Nollaig, Christmas. I gceann na míosa, at the end of, after, a month. Nuair a tháinig an mhaidin, when morning came. 7. (With certain names of diseases) An slaghdán, the common cold. An fiabhras dearg, scarlet fever. An eitinn, tuberculosis. An bhruitíneach, measles. 8. (With partitive expressions) Cad é an tús a bhí air? How did it begin? Cá bhfuil an deireadh aige? Where does it end? Is fada an muineál atá air, he has got such a long neck. Briseann sé an croí ionam, it breaks my heart. 9. (Denoting plurality, intensity) Na céadta leabhar, hundreds of books. An iomad daoine, many persons. An iomarca cainte, too much talk. An uile lá, every day. Is é an díogha, an togha, an scoth, é, it is the worst, the choicest, the best. Is againn a bhí an lá! What a day we had! 10. (In vivid speech) Chonaic mé an fear romham, I saw (to my surprise) a man in front of me. Chuala mé an scread san oíche, I heard a (sudden) scream in the night. 11. (Distributive use) Pingin an ceann, a penny each. Scilling an chloch, a shilling per stone. Deoch an fear, a drink for each man. 12. (With names of languages) An Ghaeilge, an Béarla, an Laidin, an Eabhrais, Irish, English, Latin, Hebrew. 13. (With certain names of places) An Fhrainc, an Spáinn, an Ostair, an Eoraip, France, Spain, Austria, Europe. An tSionainn, an Life, the Shannon, the Liffey. An Mhí, an Mhucais, an Róimh, an Mheánmhuir, Meath, Muckish, Rome, the Mediterranean. (With g. of Éire, Albain, Gaillimh) Muintir na hÉireann, na hAlban, na Gaillimhe, the people of Ireland, of Scotland, of Galway. 14. (With titles) An tAthair Seán, Father Seán. An Ceannfort Ó Néill, Commandant O’Neill. An Breitheamh Ó Riain, Judge Ryan. An Cearrbhach Mac Cába, McCabe the card-player. 15. (With certain personal names and surnames) An Calbhach, an Feardorcha, Calvagh, Frederick. An Máilleach, an Búrcach, an Ruiséalach, Mr. O’Malley, Mr. Burke, Mr. Russell. Na Brianaigh, na Gearaltaigh, na Brúnaigh, the O’Briens, the Fitzgeralds, the Browns. 16. (In generalized name-phrases) An Choróin Mhuire, the Rosary. An Leabhar Eoin, St. John’s Gospel. An ghaoth Mhárta, the March wind. Tar éis na Féile Bríde, after the feast of St. Brigid. (Var: Eclipses when preceded by de, do, i (> sa); d, t eclipsed under same circumstances as b, c, etc.)

an2, interr. vb. part. (Eclipses; not used with past tense of regular vbs.) An dtagann sé? Does he come? An ólfaidh sé é? Will he drink it? An suífeá síos? Would you sit down?